Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Horace Williams Airport is scheduled to close in May, but both UNC students and Chapel Hill citizens have attempted to prevent the closure. With a petition that already has over 400 signatures, founder and vice president of Carolina General Aviation Daniel Schwartz is the latest in trying to save the airport. Schwartz said the goal of the petition is to bring awareness to the closing of the airport and hopes that the petition gets over 1,000 signatures.“People need to understand the history of the place and not only that, but what UNC has done to prevent profitability and to understand its potential,” Schwartz said.The University has been trying to close Horace Williams Airport since 2002, with the most recent attempt in November 2017. At a Board of Trustees meeting in November, a resolution was passed to close the airport without any pre-conditions. Horace Williams Airport is expected to remove all based planes by May, with the last flight on May 15.People signing the petition are extremely passionate about keeping the airport open. When giving reasons for signing, people have mentioned everything from how Horace Williams Airport benefits the local economy to the history of the airport.Local dentist and pilot Keith Taylor said an online petition may not be effective unless the North Carolina General Assembly takes action. Additionally, Taylor said the airport is not funded by the federal government, so there are no federal requirements to keep it open. But because UNC is a public university, the General Assembly has the ability to keep Horace Williams Airport open.

In 2002, the General Assembly used their power to mandate that the airport had to stay open until at least 2005. Their intervention may be one of the only hopes to keep Horace Williams Airport alive as May quickly approaches.According to a statement sent out by the Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Enterprises Brad Ives, the airport is closing because it is currently losing over $1.2 million, and the runway is facing extensive repair.In the statement, Ives also said the airport is not a core operation of the University’s mission. However, local pilot and lawyer Bob Epting said he was told the airport will remain open for helicopter refueling for the next several years, even with the official closing of the airport.“This airport has been a part of aviation education in North Carolina and in particular Chapel Hill for private pilots, for the United States Navy, for World War II, for the flying club after World War II and for all these kids that we’ve flown since then,” Epting said.Operations at Horace Williams first started in 1928 and, by the time World War II, ended the airport was the largest airport at any university in the country. During World War I and II, operations expanded through the establishment of a United States Navy Pre-Flight School, which trained over 18,000 cadets. Notable graduates of the flight school include former presidents George H. W. Bush and Gerald Ford.
Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.dailytarheel.com

The North Sumatra Police on Monday publicly revealed the results of its investigation into how a National Police helicopter could end up being used to transport the bride and groom in a wedding video that went viral.The North Sumatra Police's deputy chief, Brig. Gen Agus Andrianto, said the investigation team discovered that the helicopter pilot and co-pilot had conspired with a middleman to rent out the police helicopter.RG, who organized the wedding, wanted to rent a helicopter so paid a middleman Rp 120 million (S$11,544) to rent one. The middleman found a commercial helicopter, but it went out of service later, which upset RG.The middleman then contacted an individual who knew the co-pilot, First Insp. W. The co-pilot and the pilot, First Insp. T, later agreed to rent out a helicopter belonging to the National Police."We're still investigating how much the pilots were paid," Agus said.The case became public after a video was circulated on social media that showed the bride and groom alighting on Feb. 28 from a helicopter painted blue and white with a red stripe, the standard colors of a police chopper."This is purely the fault of the co-pilot and pilot," Agus said. He added that on the day the video was taken, the pilots pretended to be warming up the helicopter and running equipment checks, but after they took off, neither pilot answered calls from their colleagues.Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.asiaone.com

DAYTONA BEACH — The Florida Fifth District Court of Appeals has ordered the trial court to review the case of Roger Niehaus against Dennis Dixon.The decision was issued on February 16 by Judge Brian D. Lambert, with judges Jay P. Cohen and William D. Palmer concurring.Niehaus sued Dixon, "alleging that Dixon negligently struck him in the head with the wing of an airplane that Dixon was operating, resulting in personal injury and damages to Niehaus," according to the appeals court decision. Dixon said he was trying to taxi the plane off the runway when Niehaus ran toward the aircraft, slammed his fist into the right wing of the plane, fell to the ground, and screamed that Dixon had hit him with the plane. Dixon accused Niehaus of failing to disclose that he had been in an automobile accident resulting in injuries ten months earlier, repeatedly lying during his deposition and intentionally concealing his medical history.In ruling against Niehaus, the trial court said Niehaus was supposed to disclose that he had suffered injuries from a car accident 10 months earlier.The appeals court, however, said Niehaus did “provide pertinent information and records about this accident when requested, but had not disclosed this information earlier because Dixon admittedly did not ask Niehaus about prior injuries or accidents in his initial discovery,” according to the appellate court's decision.“Niehaus was under no obligation to voluntarily provide records or other information prior to being asked by Dixon,” Lambert said in the decision. The trial court also said that Niehaus’ testimony at the hearing was false. Niehaus, who said he could not work on airplanes anymore after the accident, was shown two photographs taken on different days. He "testified that one photo showed him working on a plane and the second appeared to show that he was sitting on a stool taking a break but he 'probably' had been working on a plane," Lambert wrote in the decision.Niehaus added that he was still physically able to work on planes, but problems with his memory wouldn’t allow him "to pursue obtaining a license in airplane maintenance."When the trial court said the second photo that was seemingly of Niehaus doing work on an aircraft, "Niehaus testified that it looked as if he was 'looking for a screw or something in a screw can,'” according to the appellate court decision. The trial court said Niehaus changed his testimony in response to the court’s comment, therefore accusing him of making a false testimony. The appellate court, however, did not entirely agree.“This testimony did not clearly and convincingly demonstrate fraud,” Lambert said.The trial court counted eight instances where it ruled that Niehaus made false statements or committed acts of intentional concealment.The appeals court said the trial court needs to review the case because at least two of the eight instances were not supported by facts.Original article can be found here ➤ https://flarecord.com

(KUTV) - For years the City of Ogden has continued to bail out its airport.But with the success of one Allegiant flight, money has been better, but they are still hoping to see more commercial flights in the future.Just a few months ago, there were flights to and from Las Vegas and Los Angeles but both were suspended.Officials at the Ogden airport said the timing was off and those flights are done for now. But it could be something they look at again an option sometime in the future.Commercial flights are not the only revenue for the airport, “It's pilot training, it’s general aviation pilots, it's hangars. I probably had the largest number of general aviation hangars in the state of Utah of the 70,000 operations at the Ogden-Hinckley Airport last year,” Airport Manager Jon Greiner said."99% were not commercial operations. There's a lot of things that happen in a general aviation airport,” Greiner said.But while it's buzzing outside at the airport on a daily basis, it's inside at the Allegiant terminal where they would like to see it a little busier.“We are just trying to get this cash flow down a bit so it's not as much. It will probably be more with the Allegiant flights, or small aircraft ya know 55 or 70 seaters that's probably where the market will be,” Tom Christopulos, Director of Community Economic Development for Ogden City said.The airport has seen great success with an Allegiant flight to Phoenix which has brought federal funding the past couple years. “That has kinda stopped the big scale bleeding that we used to do four years ago,” Christopulos said. "The airport has been losing money for decades, borrowing one-half million dollars give or take from the general fund, making up losses and repaying an old loan. I don’t think it's going to be profitable. That's not what happens with the majority of the airports,” Christopulos said.But commercial flights are how they hope to continue to narrow the gap, or possibly turn a profit. The airport is built to handle up to six commercial flights a day without additional parking, “Our intent is to come back in at a later date and to see what happens,” Christopulos said.So, for now, Ogden airport is open for business, “Our gas flow is up 50% in the last year the operations are up, we've got new tenants on the field,” Greiner said.“We're still open, we are not closing anytime soon,” Christopulos said.Christopulos said they are waiting for the Salt Lake International Airport to finish renovations to see what happens with the market and demand, but they are always in talks with airline carriers to see what their options are.

The Wall Street JournalBy Andy PasztorMarch 6, 2018 5:18 p.m. ETBALTIMORE—White House officials are preparing legislation that for the first time would allow federal law enforcement and homeland security to disrupt, take over or even destroy suspected hostile drones in U.S. airspace.The goal is to break the logjam preventing substantial expansion of commercial uses of unmanned aerial systems, because those agencies currently lack authority to disrupt or neutralize suspicious aircraft piloted from the ground.The Pentagon and the Energy Department, which operates nuclear-warhead manufacturing sites, already have explicit powers to take out suspect or unidentified drones passing over their critical facilities. Michael Kratsios, the White House’s deputy technology adviser, said on Tuesday that a bill is now being drafted—and is expected to be unveiled shortly—giving the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security and other civilian agencies similar rights to detect and defeat such threats.“We need to reduce risks…to public safety” from the errant or hostile use of drones, Mr. Kratsios told a government-industry conference here. The bill, among other things, seeks to eliminate the outright ban against any of the agencies interfering with radio transmissions or other communications affecting unmanned aerial vehicles. Mr. Kratsios didn’t elaborate on the language or legal principles that will form the backbone of the anticipated bill.Without additional powers to act quickly and unilaterally against potential airborne threats, Federal Aviation Administration’s efforts to loosen safety rules for drone operators appear indefinitely delayed, Bryan Wynne, president of the industry’s largest trade association, told the same conference.Previous FAA moves to propose remote tracking and identification of drones failed, due partly to splits among industry players and because leaders of the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies balked at signing on to concepts that failed to include the green light for taking countermeasures.The FAA is continuing to look for ways to gradually phase-in drone operations at night, over densely populated areas and beyond the sight of ground-based operators. But acting FAA administrator Daniel Elwell warned that faced with the potential threat of “people who aren’t playing by the rules,” a single “malicious act could put a hard stop (to) all the good work we’ve done.”Another sign of escalating interest in combating hostile drones is the dramatic growth of startups and other companies offering technologies for such purposes. Some industry estimates indicate there are now over 200 providers of various counter-drone systems, several times the total just a few years ago.A bevy of U.S. intelligence reports and news stories highlighting terrorist groups weaponizing off-the-shelf drone models also has added to White House concerns.Under the current legal framework, if a drone suddenly appears over a crowd and its intention isn’t clear, “we have limited tools to use,” according to Angela Stubblefield, a high-level FAA official responsible for security issues.She told the conference that security experts describe the range of potential threats from hostile actors to hobbyists who inadvertently interfere with helicopters assisting firefighters, emergency medical evacuations or local police. The array of possible troublemakers encompasses “the clueless, the careless and the criminals,” she said.Yet above all, speakers at Tuesday’s session emphasized the FAA and industry still must agree on a demonstrated, reliable technology to identify drones that are increasingly common across U.S. skies. More than one million drones have been registered with the FAA, and some 70,000 have been classified as primarily for commercial applications.In light of anticipated sustained growth, Ms. Stubblefield said, “anonymous operations are antithetical to safety and security.”Over the years, lawmakers have urged the FAA to accelerate work in this area and new legislative initiatives are expected shortly. Final technical rules could be years away, according to industry and government experts, making the need for legislative changes more pressing.Against the backdrop of airborne risks, Mr. Elwell told the conference “we mustn’t lose focus on the safety of the people on the ground.”Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.wsj.com

Boeing Co. may need to rethink one of the most distinctive features of its proposed new mid-range jet -- a small freight hold -- to win over customers in Asia, potentially the plane’s largest market.The planemaker faces a “cargo conundrum,” for the jetliner dubbed the 797 by industry observers, said Domhnal Slattery, founder and chief executive officer of Avolon Holdings Ltd., the world’s third-largest aircraft leasing firm.Major U.S. carriers and their counterparts across the Pacific have very different views on how much baggage and freight the airliners should haul -- specifically, the Asian companies want to carry more, Slattery said. The disagreement potentially calls into question the distinctive oval-shaped fuselage that Boeing is planning for the 797, which suggests a leaner cargo mission.“Typically in the states, it’s bags plus five tons of cargo,” he said on the sidelines of the Americas conference for the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading. “The Asians want bags plus 10 tons for this aircraft. So who do you build it for?”Middle MarketBoeing has revealed few details about its first all-new jetliner since the 787 Dreamliner. The general plan is for a two-aircraft family designed to overlap the largest single-aisle planes and smallest wide-body models. The twin-aisle planes would seat between 220 and 270 passengers, Randy Tinseth, a Boeing vice president for commercial marketing, said Monday.The new middle-of-market aircraft, which would debut by 2024 or 2025, would be able to fly about 5,000 nautical miles. The goal is to serve both heavily congested short-range flights within China and Asia as well as longer routes from, say, the U.S. Midwest to Europe more efficiently than current generations of Airbus SE’s A330 and Boeing 767 jetliners.Boeing thinks the aircraft have the potential to open up hundreds of new direct routes, much like its 787 Dreamliner, whose fuel-efficiency and long range prompted airlines to connect 170 new city pairs, Tinseth said. Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Continental Holdings Inc. are among the operators that have signaled their interest in the 797.Belly CargoAs Chicago-based Boeing worked with about 50 customers around the world to hone its design, the large U.S. network carriers indicated belly cargo isn’t a high priority. That freed Boeing to consider a frame that analysts have described as “ovoid,” pinched on the sides to provide for a roomier passenger cabin and smaller cargo hold.Asian buyers may have a different view of the plane’s ideal cross-section -- the combination of cabin and cargo hold, said Slattery, whose leasing company is controlled by China’s Bohai Capital Holding Co. Ltd. “This is the big issue,” he said. “I coined it today as the cargo conundrum.”For Boeing, “This raises a very interesting strategic question: where is the biggest market for this airplane over a 25 year period? Unquestionably, it’s Asia,” Slattery said.The plane, if it is launched, would emerge at a time when the aviation market is tilting toward rapidly growing airlines in China and other Asia-Pacific countries. The growth is a product of an expanding middle class that’s beginning to seek travel by air for the first time.Of the 1,350 unique new-city pairs launched worldwide last year, about 600 were in Asia, including roughly 400 in China, Slattery said. Within the domestic market served by U.S. carriers, only 61 new city routes were created.“Historically Boeing would have launched an airplane like this with a U.S. major,” Slattery said, noting the large need of airlines such as United, Delta and American as they eventually replace their 757 and 767 fleets. “Boeing has to be super-careful that they build an airplane that is fit for purpose in Asia, because that’s where the action is."Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.bloomberg.com

Location: Palatka, FLAccident Number: ERA18LA097Date & Time: 03/06/2018, 1430 ESTRegistration: N45DCAircraft: REILLY CHARLES W ESCAPADEAircraft Damage: SubstantialDefining Event: Loss of engine power (total)Injuries: 2 MinorFlight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal On March 6, 2018, about 1430 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Just Escapade, N45DC, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while on approach to the Palatka Municipal Airport (28J), Palatka, Florida. The private pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from Northeast Florida Regional Airport (SGJ), St. Augustine, Florida, about 1330.According to the pilot, he topped-off the airplane's fuel tanks at SGJ, took off, and then flew southbound over the St. Johns River toward 28J. After maneuvering for about one hour, he entered a mid-field downwind in the traffic pattern at 28J for runway 27. As the airplane turned onto the final approach leg of the traffic pattern, the engine lost total power. The pilot reported that he checked the fuel shutoff valve, and verified it was on, added power, and applied the engine enrichener, which produced only a momentary burst of engine power. He added that "the airplane doesn't glide very well," airspeed decreased, and it entered an aerodynamic stall, descended, and impacted the roof of a house and trees about one mile from the runway threshold. The pilot reported that the engine was running "perfect" up until the loss of engine power.The airplane came to rest in a backyard on its right side. The right wing was crushed forward and under the fuselage; the airplane's fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage.According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness records, the two-seat, high-wing, float equipped, single-engine airplane was manufactured in 2007. It was equipped with a 100-horsepower Rotax 912ULS engine, that was controlled by a throttle lever and enrichener. The airplane was not equipped with carburetor heat.Postaccident examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the fuel selector was found in the off position at the accident site, however, the pilot reported that after impact, he moved the fuel selector to the off position. The left-wing fuel tank was empty, and the right wing had about 3 gallons of fuel. Both tanks displayed evidence that fuel had leaked out post-impact, as an odor of fuel was present at the accident site. A red auxiliary fuel tank located behind the pilot and passenger seat was found with just enough fuel to cover the bottom of the 12-gallon tank. When examined, both carburetors displayed remnants of fuel inside their float bowls. Examination of the fuel system between the fuel tanks and the carburetors revealed the lines were clear and there were no mechanical anomalies (See Engine and Fuel System Factual Report in Docket).The airplane was equipped with a Dynon Avionics, FlightDEK-D180 Super-Bright, Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) and Engine Monitoring System (EMS), which recorded non-volatile memory from the flight. The data revealed normal engine and flight instrument parameters throughout the flight, until about 2 minutes prior to the accident, where fuel flow momentarily dropped to 0 and then returned to 2 gallons per hour (GPH). About 50 seconds later, fuel flow increased rapidly through 8 GPH, then 13 seconds later shows 57 GPH, and peaks at 102 GPH. When the fuel flow rose to 102 GPH, rpm rapidly decreased to 0 rpm, as the airplane was about 400 ft above ground level. The rpm remained at 0 rpm for the remainder of the recording, except for a momentary 2,500 rpm reading. The airplane's airspeed and altitude rapidly decreased a few seconds after the 0 rpm reading. The impact was about 25 seconds after the first 0 rpm reading (See EFIS and EMS Data Factual Report in docket).An engine test-run was performed; the engine started with its own ignition system and original fuel. The engine produced power for a total of 2-3 minutes at different power settings. During the engine test, after the engine ran for about 30 seconds, the fuel source was removed. The engine ran for about two additional minutes without the fuel source connected, and then stopped.The Dynon FlightDEK-D180 display was also monitored during the test-run. After the fuel source was removed, the fuel flow GPH reading decreased to 2-3 GPH, then further decreased to 0.0 GPH for one or two seconds. Subsequently, GPH rapidly rose rapidly rose to 99.9 GPH and remained steady at that reading until the engine ceased running. After the engine stopped, the GPH reading continued to display 99.9 GPH for about 5 seconds, and then decreased back to 0.0 GPH.The airplane was equipped with an electronic fuel flow transducer, which measured the GPH rate of fuel passing through the fuel line via a spinning paddle. According to a transducer manufacturer, when air enters the flow transducer, the paddle wheel is free to spin at the velocity of the air that passes over the wheel, which is higher than fuel flow.According to FAA airman records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and sea. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued in November 2016. He reported a total flight experience of 435 hours and 169 hours in the accident make and model airplane.The weather conditions reported at Keystone Airpark (42J), Keystone Heights, Florida, 22 nautical miles from the accident site, at 1435, included a wind of 220° at 12 knots, gusting to 16 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 3,500 and 5,500 ft above ground level, temperature 24°C, and dew point 6°C.Pilot InformationCertificate: PrivateAge: 70, MaleAirplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land; Single-engine SeaSeat Occupied: LeftOther Aircraft Rating(s): NoneRestraint Used: 4-pointInstrument Rating(s): NoneSecond Pilot Present: NoInstructor Rating(s): NoneToxicology Performed: NoMedical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/LimitationsLast FAA Medical Exam: 11/30/2016Occupational Pilot: NoLast Flight Review or Equivalent: 06/08/2016Flight Time: (Estimated) 435.1 hours (Total, all aircraft), 169.2 hours (Total, this make and model), 337.8 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 15.2 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1.1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)Aircraft and Owner/Operator InformationAircraft Make: REILLY CHARLES WRegistration: N45DCModel/Series: ESCAPADE NO SERIESAircraft Category: AirplaneYear of Manufacture: 2007Amateur Built: YesAirworthiness Certificate: ExperimentalSerial Number: JAESC0116Landing Gear Type: Amphibian;Seats: 2Date/Type of Last Inspection: 08/12/2017, AnnualCertified Max Gross Wt.: 1430 lbsTime Since Last Inspection: 21 HoursEngines: 1 ReciprocatingAirframe Total Time: 386 Hours as of last inspectionEngine Manufacturer: RotaxELT: Installed, not activatedEngine Model/Series: 912ULSRegistered Owner: On fileRated Power: 100 hpOperator: On fileOperating Certificate(s) Held: NoneMeteorological Information and Flight PlanConditions at Accident Site: Visual ConditionsCondition of Light: DayObservation Facility, Elevation: K42J, 9 ft mslDistance from Accident Site: 22 Nautical MilesObservation Time: 1435 EDTDirection from Accident Site: 300° Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 3500 ft aglVisibility: 10 MilesLowest Ceiling:Visibility (RVR):Wind Speed/Gusts: 12 knots / 16 knotsTurbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / NoneWind Direction: 220°Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/AAltimeter Setting: 29.93 inches HgTemperature/Dew Point: 24°C / 6°CPrecipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No PrecipitationDeparture Point: ST AUGUSTINE, FL (SGJ)Type of Flight Plan Filed: NoneDestination: Palatka, FL (28J)Type of Clearance: VFRDeparture Time: 1330 EDTType of Airspace: Class GAirport InformationAirport: PALATKA MUNI - LT KAY LARKIN F (28J)Runway Surface Type: AsphaltAirport Elevation: 47 ftRunway Surface Condition: DryRunway Used: 27IFR Approach: NoneRunway Length/Width: 6000 ft / 100 ftVFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Traffic Pattern Wreckage and Impact InformationCrew Injuries: 1 MinorAircraft Damage: SubstantialPassenger Injuries: 1 MinorAircraft Fire: NoneGround Injuries: N/AAircraft Explosion: NoneTotal Injuries: 2 MinorLatitude, Longitude: 29.659444, -81.669167 (est)

Location: Palatka, FLAccident Number: ERA18LA097Date & Time: 03/06/2018, 1430 ESTRegistration: N45DCAircraft: REILLY CHARLES W ESCAPADEInjuries: 2 MinorFlight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - PersonalOn March 6, 2018 about 1430 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Escapade airplane, N45DC, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while on approach to the Palatka Municipal Airport (28J), Palatka, Florida. The private pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from Northeast Florida Regional Airport (SGJ), St. Augustine, Florida, about 1330.According to the pilot, he topped-off the airplane's fuel tanks at SGJ, took off, and then cruised southbound over the St. Johns River toward 28J. After maneuvering in the area, he entered the mid-field downwind leg of the traffic pattern at 28J for runway 27, and as the airplane turned onto the final approach leg of the traffic pattern, the engine lost total power. The pilot reported that he checked the on/off fuel shutoff valve, and verified it was on, added power, and applied the engine choke, which produced only a momentary burst of engine power. He added that "the airplane doesn't glide very well," and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall, descended, and impacted the roof of a house and trees about 1/2 mile from the runway. The pilot reported that the engine was running "perfect" up until the loss of engine power. The airplane's fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage.According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and sea. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued in November 2016.According to FAA airworthiness records, the two-seat, high-wing, float equipped, single-engine airplane was manufactured in 2007. It was equipped with a Rotax 912ULS, 100-horsepower engine.The airplane was retained for further examination. Aircraft and Owner/Operator InformationAircraft Manufacturer: REILLY CHARLES WRegistration: N45DCModel/Series: ESCAPADE NO SERIESAircraft Category: AirplaneAmateur Built: YesOperator: On fileOperating Certificate(s) Held: None Meteorological Information and Flight PlanConditions at Accident Site: Visual ConditionsCondition of Light: DayObservation Facility, Elevation: KSGJ, 9 ft mslObservation Time: 1456 ESTDistance from Accident Site: 27 Nautical MilesTemperature/Dew Point: 25°C / 6°CLowest Cloud Condition: ClearWind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots/ 15 knots, 240°Lowest Ceiling: NoneVisibility: 10 MilesAltimeter Setting: 29.93 inches HgType of Flight Plan Filed: NoneDeparture Point: ST AUGUSTINE, FL (SGJ)Destination: Palatka, FL (28J) Wreckage and Impact InformationCrew Injuries: 1 MinorAircraft Damage: SubstantialPassenger Injuries: 1 MinorAircraft Fire: NoneGround Injuries: N/AAircraft Explosion: NoneTotal Injuries: 2 MinorLatitude, Longitude: 29.659444, -81.669167 (est)

PALATKA, Fla. - Two people were injured Tuesday afternoon when a floatplane clipped a tree, a power line and the roof of a home before crashing on Reid Street, just outside Palatka.The Putnam County Sheriff's Office said a bystander who witnessed the crash took a man and woman with minor injuries to the Putnam County Medical Center.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the floatplane that was on approach to Kay Larkin Airport at 2:36 p.m. when the pilot radioed the tower to say the plane had lost power.The floatplane landed in the backyard of a house near the intersection of State Roads 100 and 17, only blocks from the airport.Larry Putt, 70, of Augusta, and Jan Edwards, 66, of St. Augustine both suffered minor injuries, according to troopers.No one at the house when the plane crashed. Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.news4jax.com

Two people are injured after a floatplane crash landed in Putnam County on Tuesday.Putnam County Fire Chief Paul Flateau says first responders were called to reports of a single-engine plane crash off Reid Street at approximately 2:35 p.m.Pilot and passenger, Larry Putt, 70, and Jan Edwards, 66, were already en route to the hospital when fire rescue got to the scene, Flateau said.Florida Highway Patrol said on Twitter that the floatplane may have lost power before approaching Palatka Airport.FHP said the floatplane hit a home, tree and power line before landing.Both people on the plane had minor injuries and were taken to Putnam Medical Center, according to FHP.Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.actionnewsjax.com

http://registry.faa.gov/N6764WAviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board Location: Edgewater, FLAccident Number: ERA18LA096Date & Time: 03/06/2018, 1105 ESTRegistration: N6764WAircraft: PIPER PA 28Injuries: 2 SeriousFlight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional On March 6, 2018, about 1105 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6764W, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while on approach to Massey Ranch Airpark (X50), Edgewater, Florida. The flight instructor and student pilot were seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by an individual as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.According to initial witness statements to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane was on the final approach leg of the traffic pattern at "low" altitudes on the previous landings while "doing pattern work."The airplane subsequently impacted terrain about 750 ft from the threshold of runway 18.Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that it impacted the ground in a nose down attitude. The top section of a tree was separated and located in the vicinity of the wreckage. In addition, there were several small branches with 45° cuts in them. The inboard section of the left wing was impact crushed aft and the left-wing tip was impact crushed. The outboard section of the right wing was impact crushed aft. The empennage was buckled and the horizontal stabilator and rudder remained undamaged. A total of 25 gallons of aviation fuel was noted in the wings during recovery.The engine remained attached to the engine mounts. Thumb compression was attained on all four cylinders and valve train continuity was confirmed through the engine and accessories by rotating the propeller through 360° of rotation. The left and right magnetos produced spark on all ignition towers during hand rotation. The propeller remained attached to the engine and chordwise scratching was noted on the blades.Aircraft and Owner/Operator InformationAircraft Manufacturer: PIPERRegistration: N6764WModel/Series: PA 28 140Aircraft Category: AirplaneAmateur Built: NoOperator: On fileOperating Certificate(s) Held: None Meteorological Information and Flight PlanConditions at Accident Site: Visual ConditionsCondition of Light: DayObservation Facility, Elevation: EVB, 10 ft mslObservation Time: 1547 UTCDistance from Accident Site: 4 Nautical MilesTemperature/Dew Point: 23°C / 10°CLowest Cloud Condition: ClearWind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 11 knots/ 15 knots, 200°Lowest Ceiling: NoneVisibility: 10 MilesAltimeter Setting: 30.03 inches HgType of Flight Plan Filed: NoneDeparture Point: Edgewater, FL (X50)Destination: Edgewater, FL (X50)Wreckage and Impact InformationCrew Injuries: 2 SeriousAircraft Damage: SubstantialPassenger Injuries: N/AAircraft Fire: NoneGround Injuries: N/AAircraft Explosion: NoneTotal Injuries: 2 SeriousLatitude, Longitude: 28.986944, -80.925833 (est)

Two siblings on a private flying lesson were injured after a small plane on approach to an airport on Florida's Atlantic Coast crashed into a house on Tuesday, officials said.The crash happened around 10 a.m. as the aircraft attempted to land at Massey Ranch Airport in Edgewater, located 17 miles south of Daytona Beach."I heard this terrible terrible noise, like a big crash," Dorothy O'Brien told FOX35. "I looked out my window, and I seen my carport, one of the pieces."O'Brien said she was getting ready for a lunch date when the plane hit part of her home, but didn't sustain any injuries."It's just my carport, that can be replaced. I prayed, and I thank God every day, and I pray for the two kids that were in there," she said.Friends of the pilot, 23-year-old Amrit Ramnarine, told FOX 35 that he was taking his 21-year-old sister Asha for a flying lesson.The owner of Daytona Aviation, Ken Ali, told FOX35 that Ramnarine teaches at their flight school.On Tuesday, he decided to take his younger sister for a private lesson, not involved with the flight school, and rented a single-engine Piper.Ali told the television station he is asking for prayers and hoping the siblings they will make a full recovery.Authorities said Amrit is in serious but stable condition, while Asha is in critical condition at an area hospital.The cause of the crash remains under investigation.Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.foxnews.com

A Trinidadian man was in serious condition and his sister in critical condition after a plane in which they were flying crashed into a house in Florida on Tuesday.According to a report from Fox News, 23-year-old Amrit Ramnarine and his sister Asha Ramnarine, 21, were flying a small plane when the aircraft crashed around 10:00 am at a home in New Smyrna Beach, close to a runway at Massey Ranch Airpark.Both people were taken to a nearby hospital. Amrit, a former Queen's Royal College student, was seriously injured and Asha was in critical condition, a sheriff’s spokesman said.Nobody in the home was injured.Friends told Fox News that Amrit was taking his sister on a flying lesson.The owner of Daytona Aviation, Ken Ali, told FOX35 that Ramnarine teaches at their flight school.Ramnarine was a former student of Queen's Royal College. The school urged fellow alumni to pray for the speedy recovery of the siblings in a social media post on Friday."Our thoughts and prayers are with Queen's Royal College "Old Boy" Amrit Ramnarine and his family as we hope that he and his sister speedily recover," the school said. Authorities said Amrit is in serious but stable condition, while Asha is in critical condition at an area hospital.The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.looptt.com

A pair of siblings were injured when the plane they were flying in crashed on approach Tuesday to Massey Ranch Airpark in Edgewater.Amrit Ramnarine, 23, and his sister, Asha Ramnarine, 21, suffered injuries when the small airplane came crashing through some trees and landed on its nose in the backyard of 1049 Roberts Lane.Amrit Ramnarine suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach. His sister Asha Ramnarine was in critical condition and had to be flown in a helicopter to the same hospital, said sheriff’s spokesman Andrew Gant.Emergency crews said Amrit Ramnarine suffered facial injuries and he was listed in serious condition.Gant said it appeared the single-engine Piper airplane was coming in for a landing at nearby Massey Ranch Airpark when the plane clipped some trees and crashed at 10:03 a.m.“They were coming in for a landing and they crashed,” a caller told a 9-1-1 dispatcher.Another caller said a lot of people arrived at the scene to help.“There is two people in here and they both are breathing,” another caller reported.The caller said the airplane looks like it did a nose dive straight into the ground.“It looks like a lady on top of a gentleman,” the 9-1-1 caller said. “The gentleman is at the bottom but he is still breathing.”The Federal Aviation Administration arrived on scene to investigate. The investigator declined requests to talk about the crash.Another small plane carrying two occupants crashed about 2:30 p.m. 75 miles away in Putnam County. The pilot was from Georgia and his passenger was a woman from St. Augustine. Both suffered minor injuries.A man who lives near the Southeast Volusia crash, Tom Traska, said he was in his backyard when the aircraft went down. His property borders the mobile home lot where the airplane landed.“I just heard the engine rev up so I looked up and I could see the plane hitting the top of the pine trees,” Traska said.Airplanes often glide in the area approaching the airstrip to land, Traska said, as one slowly flew over the top of the pine trees above the scene of the wreck.“It sounded like he was revving up to get more altitude,” Traska said.Traska said he ran through his backyard to the crash scene but the occupants of the plane were already being helped.“They were still in the plane when I went over there,” Traska said. “There was already a bunch of people around them and then the medics came and helped them out.”Original article ➤ http://www.news-journalonline.com

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. - A small plane crashed Tuesday morning into a home in New Smyrna Beach, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff's Office reports two people, identified as Amrit Ramnarine, 23 and his sister Asha Ramnarine, 21 were injured and transported to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach. There were no injuries to anyone in the residence at the crash site.Rescuers responded to the call about the crash shortly after 10 a.m. The Piper PA-28-140 crashed into a residence at 1049 Roberts Lane. The crash site was near Massey Ranch Airpark, where it appeared the plane had approached for a landing before clipping some trees and crashing.Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.wftv.com